J&K govt. orders students to attend ABVP’s rally in Poonch; Opposition, students’ body criticise move

Government order mandating students to attend ABVP rally criticized by political parties and student bodies in Kashmir.

A government order asking educational heads to send students and teachers to a Tiranga Rally organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the Pir Panjal valley’s Poonch has come under criticism from political parties and students’ bodies in Kashmir.

According to an order of the Additional District Magistrate, Poonch, permission was granted to a rally on January 23 to mark respect and celebrate Republic Day. The order was also copied to several schools, including government-run Higher Secondary Schools and High Schools. Besides these schools, the Christ School Poonch and Raza ul Uloom Higher Secondary, Poonch, were also directed to “send 40-50 students along with two teachers” for the rally.

The government order has come under criticism from political parties. “J&K’s Education Department under the National Conference (NC) government has made it mandatory for both private and public school children across Poonch to attend a rally organised by ABVP the RSS affiliated student wing that normalises anti- Muslim bigotry. Using education as a propaganda tool by forcing students to attend ideological events is unacceptable,” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti said, in a post on social media platform X.

A spokesman of the J&K Students Association said the order was “deeply concerning and unacceptable”. “With the direction that students should join the ABVP in the rally, this has become more an ideological event rather than Republic Day celebrations. The government has no right to dictate which political or ideological events students should participate in,” the spokesman said.

He urged that education must remain “neutral, free from coercion or external influence, and allow students the freedom to decide their participation in any political activity”. “By imposing such mandates, the government is not only infringing upon the rights of students but also encouraging political polarization within educational institutions,” the Association said.